Providential

PROVIDENCE;

• Foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.

• God, especially when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.

• a manifestation of divine care or direction.

God is a providential God, it is His nature to act and do all things with care and guidance. It is God’s very nature to lead us down the perfect path.

We fear alignment, we get unsure about making decisions, not knowing for sure what is best and sometimes we don’t have the boldness to step in faith cause it doesn’t alsways seem like wisdom, like the smart decision. God can not make decisions that are unwise or uncaring, but how much do we trust it?

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:1-3‬

God is our Shepherd. Sheep have a relationship with their shepherd where they know his voice innately and trust him relentlessly. Can we say that about our relationships with God, where we are so confident in where He is taking us that we don’t try to carve out our own path. It is God’s way to take us in the path that is best for us, “in green pastures” where there is always provision. When God told Abraham to leave his family that he will take him to a land that He will show him. Abraham, had no picture created for him, but he trusted God and never lacked along the way. God “leads us in the path of righteousness”, He is putting us in rightstanding with Him and is it important that we note this is not about us, He remains true to who He says He is, “for His names sake.”

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:4-6‬ ‭NKJV

One of the reasons we tend to begin to doubt God and His providence is when things begin to get tough. God’s Word never says things will be easy on this journey, but it does say that He is with us, He will cover us and protect us. He will bless you and elevate you in the presence of those that come against you.

We question, when we have been diligent and obedient, and done all God has asked of us and bad things happen, it just doesn’t make sense. That is exactly what Job did and it was a major lesson in trusting and aligning with God. We base our definition of the fairness and just nature of God on worldly understanding, with limited knowledge and with a focus on how things pertain to us,

When Job challenged God, God responded by showing him all of His creation and asking a slew of questions..

In summary God says to Job, ‘Were you there when I payed the foundations of the earth? When I determined the size and scale of it, when I made light and darkens and told them their guidelines‬‬, were you there when I made the oceans and gave it it’s boundaries. Look at all the creatures, the deemed monsters on land and in the sea, I provide for them and keep them under control. Can you protect yourself with your right hand? Take the proud and humble them, take the wicked and bring them under your hand?’

And Job comes to the realisation, look at all God has dominance over and how He manages it all. Job is overcome with wonder at the magnificence of God and says;

““I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.””

‭‭Job‬ ‭42:2-6‬ ‭NKJV

There is so much wisdom and understanding in the ways of God, we question Him because we cannot comprehend Him, but like a sheep that has limited knowledge in comparison the the shepherd is it not better then to follow the guidance of the one that knows all than try to command that which we cannot comprehend?‬‬